When Kaila Allen-Posin tells friends she’s going to see the Pinkletinks with her four-old Tavira and 18-month-old baby Arlo, there’s always a bit of confusion.

“I try to explain that I’m going to see a kid rock band,” she says. “No, not Kid Rock! A kid rock band. They are much better.”

Although the band doesn’t have quite the national following of Kid Rock, they’ve become a big hit on the Vineyard over the past few years, playing family-friendly tunes at libraries, farmer’s markets, and nature-centers Island-wide.

Maya Mansfield and Liam Merry shake it up at the West Tisbury library. — Maria Thibodeau

The Pinkletinks started on a lark a couple years ago,” said band founder and proud father of a four-year-old girl, Rob Myers. He would play music at the farmer’s market, and invariably, children were the demographic most interested in the songs. “I asked at the library about playing kid’s music with a rock band, and it was such a hit that we had to do it again. The legend was born. We couldn’t fit everyone in the room.”

Last Thursday, the Pinkletinks played a show on the back porch of the West Tisbury Library, providing ample space for legions of youngsters to bop, spin, dance and jump around. Along with Mr. Myers, who serves as Pinkletink’s front man, the band includes Tauras A. Biskis on the cocktail drum, Leah Crosby on violin and vocals, and Andy Herr strumming lead guitar. They rocked out to classics like Three Is A Magic Number, Shoo Fly and This Land Is Your Land. They skipped to their lou, worked on the railroad, and sailed the sea in a yellow submarine, handing out stickers and magnets to the most avid dancers. The show would have sold out if it wasn’t free.

“We’re total groupies,” said Ms. Allen-Posin, as she watched Tavira dart around the stage. “And Rob’s a local celebrity,” she added. “He’s really tapped into a niche here.”

On the Vineyard, it’s rare to find a band that Mr. Myers isn’t a part of. He kicks it with Kahoots, plays drums with a cover group called The Space Invaders, and even jams with an improvisational surf band called The Hammerheads. But onstage Thursday at the West Tisbury Library, Mr. Myers looked like he was truly at home.

“Does anyone know what a pinkletink is?” Mr. Myers asked the rapt audience.

“It’s a frog!” replied one tiny dancer.

“Yes,” Mr. Myers said. “It’s a frog, also known as a peeper. They make a very nice noise, and that’s what we like to do to. We love dancing, we love singing along, and we’re so happy to have you.”

Four-year-old Liam and his two-year-old brother Parker came with their grandparents Jean and David Merry, who heard about the event through Facebook. Liam didn’t leave the dance-floor until the hour-long set was over.

“I think he’s got a future,” his grandmother said, as Liam spread his arms and spun like an airplane.

Other families happened on the event by coincidence. Laura Scoble and her six-year-old Finley were visiting the library and saw the Pinkletinks setting up. “I took Finley home to shower and came right back,” she said. “His dad’s a musician so we love things like this.”

Five-year-old Gianni Hejduk-Petrucci also needed a shower before the show. He’d just come from a long day at the Garden Gate Child Development Center.

“I call it mud camp,” Gianni said. His parents were in agreement.

After the show, Mr. Myers informed the audience that the Pinkletinks had a gig scheduled Saturday at Polly Hill Arboretum, and another one at the library next month.

“The Pinkletinks are going on tour,” said Gianni’s father, Darren Petrucci.

Nelia Decker, the West Tisbury children’s librarian, couldn’t be happier. “We love having them, and the families love it too.”